Closing time so hard to swallow

Photo: Tim Bradley

WAVING goodbye: compere Jimmy Semple (left) and doorman Frank Fitzpatrick

THE final pint has been pulled and a glass raised to a Chadderton social club that shut down at the weekend after 128 years.

Members turned out at Stanley Road Sports and Social Club for one last night, giving the historic venue a fitting send off filled with singers and aparty atmosphere.

The closure marked an end of an era for regulars.

Peter Clegg (78) said: “I’ve been coming here for around 60 years, since I started National Service.

“It’s been a huge part of my life and I was even the president for 20 years until I retired. It’s an incredibly sad day.”

The club, formerly Hollinwood and South Chadderton Conservative Club, was opened by Oldham MP James MacLean on April 30, 1887.

It enjoyed a long run of great events and visits from well-known music acts before running into financial problems in recent years.

Following the grand finale event on Saturday, the club opened on Sunday for one last time to ensure members had another opportunity to say goodbye to the establishment.


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